Hard to Swallow

by David M. ChildersTo avoid kicking someone when they're down, jokes relating to the title of Vanilla Ice's third release should be reserved for another time and place. With every successive moment that has passed since To the Extreme ended a 16-week reign at the top of the album charts in 1990, Robert Van Winkle has simply continued to be exposed for the fraud it looks like he always was. Despite his success with infectious dance grooves, Vanilla Ice has tried, with no success, to keep his act fresh over the years. His second album was almost gangsta rap, and this one just reeks of heavy metal and rap fusion. Even the album art is reminiscent of Marilyn Manson. And the fact that the producer of Hard to Swallow has spent time with the likes of Limp Bizkit and Korn is not surprising in the least, because Vanilla Ice attempts to make the transition to that style with this incredibly poor album. You have to wonder how much more of a joke and footnote in American music history Vanilla Ice can make himself. The answer is -- reserve judgment until the next embarrassing album hits stores. Who knows, maybe he'll start his own swing band.